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Can renewable and unconventional energy sources bridge the global energy gap in the 21st century?

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  • Salameh, Mamdouh G.

Abstract

Energy experts project that global oil supplies will only meet demand until global oil production has peaked sometime between 2013 and 2020. Declining oil production after peak production will cause a global energy gap to develop, which will have to be bridged by unconventional and renewable energy sources. Nuclear, solar and hydrogen are destined to become major energy sources during the 21st century, but only if their enabling technologies improve significantly to ensure affordability and convenience of use. This paper will argue that global oil production will probably peak between 2004 and 2005, causing a serious energy gap to develop sometime between 2008 and 2010 rather than 2013-2020 as the energy experts projected. It will also argue that a transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources is inevitable. The paper will conclude, however, that fossil fuels with a growing contribution from nuclear energy, will still be supplying the major part of the global energy needs for most, perhaps all, of the 21st century.

Suggested Citation

  • Salameh, Mamdouh G., 2003. "Can renewable and unconventional energy sources bridge the global energy gap in the 21st century?," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 75(1-2), pages 33-42, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:75:y:2003:i:1-2:p:33-42
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Xuechao Xia & Hui Sun & Zedong Yang & Weipeng Yuan & Dianyuan Ma, 2022. "Decoupling Analysis of Rural Population Change and Rural Electricity Consumption Change in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-19, May.
    2. G. García Clúa, José & Mantz, Ricardo J. & De Battista, Hernán, 2011. "Evaluation of hydrogen production capabilities of a grid-assisted wind-H2 system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(5), pages 1857-1863, May.
    3. Ji, Changwei & Wang, Shuofeng & Zhang, Bo, 2012. "Performance of a hybrid hydrogen–gasoline engine under various operating conditions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 584-589.
    4. Zhou, Li & Liao, Zuwei & Wang, Jingdai & Jiang, Binbo & Yang, Yongrong & Du, Wenli, 2015. "Energy configuration and operation optimization of refinery fuel gas networks," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 365-375.
    5. Bilgili, Mehmet & Ozbek, Arif & Sahin, Besir & Kahraman, Ali, 2015. "An overview of renewable electric power capacity and progress in new technologies in the world," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 323-334.
    6. Shafiee, Shahriar & Topal, Erkan, 2009. "When will fossil fuel reserves be diminished?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 181-189, January.
    7. Ignaciuk, A. & Vohringer, F. & Ruijs, A. & van Ierland, E.C., 2006. "Competition between biomass and food production in the presence of energy policies: a partial equilibrium analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(10), pages 1127-1138, July.
    8. Russo, D. & Dassisti, M. & Lawlor, V. & Olabi, A.G., 2012. "State of the art of biofuels from pure plant oil," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(6), pages 4056-4070.
    9. Hosseini, Seyed Hossein & Shakouri G., Hamed, 2016. "A study on the future of unconventional oil development under different oil price scenarios: A system dynamics approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 64-74.
    10. Lin, Chien-Hung & Tsai, Sung-Ying, 2012. "An investigation of coated aluminium bipolar plates for PEMFC," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 87-92.
    11. Awudu, Iddrisu & Zhang, Jun, 2013. "Stochastic production planning for a biofuel supply chain under demand and price uncertainties," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 189-196.
    12. Chen, Huicui & Song, Zhen & Zhao, Xin & Zhang, Tong & Pei, Pucheng & Liang, Chen, 2018. "A review of durability test protocols of the proton exchange membrane fuel cells for vehicle," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 289-299.
    13. Lin, Chien-Hung, 2013. "Surface roughness effect on the metallic bipolar plates of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 898-904.

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